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The most urgent health problems facing our nation -- such as obesity, asthma, diabetes, heart disease, and injuries -- are shaped by conditions in the places where we live and work. To stem the rising tide of chronic disease and create safe, thriving communities, we need to take health into account when making the policies and decisions that shape the world outside the hospital.
Health impact assessment (HIA) provides an avenue to do just that. HIA is a type of study that helps identify and address the health impacts of policies and decisions in non-health sectors, such as building a major roadway, planning a city’s growth, or developing agricultural policy. An HIA includes practical strategies to enhance their health benefits and minimize adverse effects. A strong HIA acknowledges the trade-offs and potential costs and benefits of various options.
The Health Impact Project, a collaboration of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The Pew Charitable Trusts, is a national initiative dedicated to promoting the use of health impact assessment (HIA) in the United States.
For more information visit the Health Impact Project Web site.
Apr 10, 2013 - An infographic shows the growth of health impact assessment programs across the United States. For more about health impact assessments, visit Pew's Health Impact Project.
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Jun 26, 2012 - Updating national nutrition standards for snack foods and beverages sold in schools could help students maintain a healthy weight and increase food service revenue, according to a health impact assessment by the Kids’ Safe & Healthful Foods Project and the Health Impact Project. The findings come as the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prepares to issue policies requiring that food and beverages sold outside of federal school meal programs meet minimum nutrition standards
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Apr 04, 2012 - This report examines the legal foundations that support incorporating health considerations into policy and programmatic decisions made in non-health fields.
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